The Okapi

The okapi has legs that look like a zebra.
Photo: SanDiegoZoo.org

An okapi is a rare mammal. It belongs to the giraffe family and is known as the forest giraffe, although it has a much shorter neck. They live in the rain forests around the Congo River in Africa. Okapis have brown bodies and white stripes on their legs, like a zebra, which help them to camouflage. Their thick, oily fur helps them stay dry in the rain. Males have short horns on their heads. Okapis are herbivores and they have long black tongues to help them eat tree leaves and buds, fruits, grasses, ferns and fungi. They have poor eyesight, but good senses of smell and hearing. Leopards are the main predator of the okapi.

The okapi was not discovered until the year 1900. Unfortunately they are now endangered, but are protected by law.

Cool Fact: An okapi can eat 45 to 60 pounds of food per day!